Paradip, April 22: Nine policemen were injured when a mob, angered over the death of a 15-year-old student in a road mishap, attacked personnel of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) battalion near the railway station here today.

The mob snatched away their rifles and fired at the policemen and later torched the police van which had run over the boy. Two police personnel received bullet injuries.

“The mob reacted violently after the vehicle, in which the IRP personnel were travelling, knocked down the 15-year-old boy near Ranigigada. The policemen picked up the boy and were taking him to Paradip for medical treatment. But hundreds of villagers intercepted the van and attacked the cops near the railway junction,” said Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police S. Devidutt Singh.

“The crowd went berserk after seeing the dead body of the boy. They attacked the policemen and snatched away their weapons. While a group of people physically assaulted the policemen, two persons used the rifles and fired shots at two IRB jawans. Later, the van was set on fire by the mob,” Singh said.

The two critically injured policemen, who had received bullet wounds, were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The other injured personnel received medical treatment at various hospitals in Paradip. The critically injured personnel are Seikh Jahirullah and Kedarnath Pradhan. While Jahirullah sustained bullet injuries in his abdomen, Pradhan was being treated for multiple injuries in his head.

Police said that the speeding van ran over 15-year-old Chandan Behera, who was riding a bicycle. Chandan had appeared for the high school certificate examination, the results of which are awaited.

“We were going to Paradip town. I was pillion-riding. The van came at a break-neck speed. It hit our bicycle from behind. Chandan fell and was trapped under the wheels. I was thrown 10 feet away. I was lucky to have survived as I fell into a sandy area. Police were taking both of us to hospital when people stopped the police van. I had minor bruises. But my friend was bleeding profusely,” said Sushanta Das (15), who had a narrow escape.

Eyewitnesses said that IRB personnel and the Orissa State Armed police constabulary displayed restraint while the mob went on a rampage. Despite being beaten up by the angry villagers, the policemen did not retaliate.

On receiving the information, senior administration and Police officials rushed to the spot. The Police have already recovered the service rifles from the villagers.

“Situation has been brought under control after the local administration had discussions with the representatives of the villagers and agreed to make ex-gratia payments to the family members of the deceased. We have also agreed to employ the victim's sister as a Home Guard in the district police,” said the Superintendent of Police.

Six platoons of armed police have been deployed in the area and the Police have refrained from making arrests.

in a bid to avoid unpleasant situation.

ORIGINAL

Manoj Kar

Paradip, April 22:

Nine Policemen were injured, two of them receiving bullet injuries when an unruly mob,

angered over the death of a 15-year old student in a road mis-hap, attacked personnel of Indian Reserve Police battalion today near the railway station junction here. The mob snatched away their rifles and fired at the policemen and later torched the police van which had ran over the boy.

“The mob reacted violently after the vehicle in which the IRP personnel had knocked down the 15-year old boy near Ranigigada on the outskirts. The Policemen picked up the boy and were taking him to Paradip for medical treatment. But hundreds of villagers of Rangigada gathered and intercepted the van and attacked them near the railway junction,' said Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police S Devidutt Singh.

“The crowd went berserk after seeing the dead body of the boy. They attacked the policemen and snatched away their weapons. While a group of people physically assaulted the policemen, two persons had used the rifles and fired shots at two IRB jawans. Later, the van was set on fire by the mob”, SP Singh said.

The two critically injured policemen, who had received bullet wounds, were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. The other injured personnel received medical treatment at various hospitals in Paradip. The injured personnel are Seikh Jahirullah and Kedarnath Pradhan. While Jahirullah had sustained bullet injuries in his abdomen, Pradhan was being treated for multiple injuries in his head.

The Police said that the van had hit 15-year-old, Chandan Behera, who was going in a bi-cycle. He was ran over by the speeding van. Chandan had appeared the high school certificate examination, results of which are awaited.

Eye witnesses said that IRB personnel and the Orissa State Armed police constabulary displayed restraint while the mob went on a rampage. Despite being beaten up by the angry villagers, the policemen did not retaliate.

.

On receiving the information, senior administration and Police officials rushed to the spot. The Police have already recovered the service rifles from the villagers.

“Situation has been brought under control after the local administration had discussions with the representatives of the villagers and agreed to make ex-gratia payments to the family members of the deceased. We have also agreed to employ the victim's sister as a Home Guard in the district police,' said the Superintendent of Police.

Six platoons of armed police have been deployed in the area and the Police have refrained from making arrests in a bid to avoid unpleasant situation.

Manoj Kar, Paradip

Eye witness account

Sushanta Das (15)- From Rangiagada

“We were going to Paradip town. I was pillion-riding. The van was at a break-neck speed. It hit our bi-cycle from the rear. Chandan fell was trapped under the wheels. I was thrown to ten feet distance. I was lucky to have survived as I fell into sandy roadside land. The police were taking both of us to hospital when people stopped the police van. I had minor bruises. But my friend was bleeding profusely”,

Rajendra Rout (35), Handia village- “People were very angry after the accident. People’s reaction was sudden. Some of us tried calm down the mob. But they did not pay heed to us”.

Dipti Prakash Pattnaik (38), Paradip- “I was supervising the construction of our house at nearby Tarinigada. After I heard of the incident, I had rushed to spot. People were seething in anger. They simply ran amuck. I feel such show of anger is symptomatic of growing anger against the khaki-clad policemen.